Divine DNA?: "Secular" and "Religious" Representations of Science in Nonfiction Science Television Programs
Through analysis of film sequences focusing on DNA in two British Broadcasting Corporation nonfiction science television programs, Wonders of Life and Bang! Goes the Theory, first broadcast in 2013, contrasting "religious" and "secular" representations of science are identified....
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[2020]
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| In: |
Zygon
Year: 2020, Volume: 55, Issue: 1, Pages: 6-26 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Wonders of life
/ Bang goes the theory
/ Genetic fingerprint
/ Natural sciences
/ Religion
|
| IxTheo Classification: | AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism KBF British Isles |
| Further subjects: | B
DNA
B Science and religion B Democracy B science on television B science communication |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Through analysis of film sequences focusing on DNA in two British Broadcasting Corporation nonfiction science television programs, Wonders of Life and Bang! Goes the Theory, first broadcast in 2013, contrasting "religious" and "secular" representations of science are identified. In the "religious" portrayal, immutable scientific knowledge is revealed to humanity by nature with minimal human intervention. Science provides a creation story, "explanatory omnicompetence," and makes life existentially meaningful. In the "secular" portrayal, scientific knowledge is changeable; is produced through technical skill in expert communities; and is ambiguous, potentially positive and negative for society. Television representations of science affect audience understandings, and this is particularly the case for nonfiction representations of science, as they are likely to be "taken more seriously" than fictional representations. The consequences of the "religious" representation of science are discussed, and it is argued that a widespread understanding of science as presented in the religious portrayal would negatively impact democracy. |
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| ISSN: | 1467-9744 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Zygon
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/zygo.12574 |